Over the Hofmannsflue to Erlach

From the Hagneck stop, follow the cantonal road westwards. At the community center, just before the Hagneck bridge, cross the railway and main road and take the path parallel to the Hagneck canal towards Lake Biel. Soon you will stand before the impressive new building of the Hagneck dam. Here a chapter in power plant history was written, as a dam with an integrated power plant has replaced the over 100-year-old hydroelectric plant since 2015. The sandstone-colored building and the surrounding ecological measures integrate perfectly into the gentle floodplain landscape of the southern shore.

Westwards over flat sandy shore – the former lake bed – follow the reed belt to Lüscherz, where several prehistoric lakeshore settlements were discovered during the Jura water correction. Due to private properties extending to the water, the wonderful lakeshore path already ends in Lüscherz. The onward path to Vinelz leads through the small village center and climbs through new residential areas up to Budligwald with the legendary Hofmannsflue.

Here, a long time ago, a young dragoon named Hofmann is said to have killed himself by falling from his horse out of lovesickness. From Hofmannsflue, a wonderful forest path snakes through the dense pine and beech forest along the ridge towards Vinelz. At several viewpoints the forest clears and you can look out over Lake Biel and towards the Chasseral.

Soon you reach Vinelz, which lies terraced on the southern shore of Lake Biel. Passing handsome farms you arrive at the Romanesque church, built around 1200. Up a staircase you go from the historic, rather quiet part of the community to an almost different world: the lower part is well visited by tourists in summer and accordingly lively. A campsite with a great bathing beach attracts visitors from near and far.

Along the excellently laid out beach path, you then reach Erlach through colourful floodplain forest. The medieval little town with the flair of a holiday resort has a lot to offer.